BRAVE County were sunk by a 71st minute strike by Rodney Jack at Gresty Road.

The visitors had their chances against promotion-chasing Crewe, but couldnét produce the all-important goal.

County had reason to be grateful to keeper Ola Tidman for a superb seventh-minute diving save to deny Dean Ashton. The Crewe forward took a cross from Rodney Jack, cut inside John Hardiker and if it hadnét been for the Swedeés athleticism would surely have scored.

Minutes later, Ashton had another shot that flew just wide, before Stefan Oakes fired across the face of goal.

It wasnét looking good for County, especially after Hardiker was booked for fouling Ashton on the edge of the Stockport area.

Grew in confidence

But the visitors gradually came in to the game and maybe should have made more after Luke Beckett nodded on a Rickie Lambert corner into the danger area. Hardiker got a toe to another Ashton effort deflecting a goalbound effort for a corner.

The Crewe forwards were getting a little frustrated by their inability to turn chances into goals and Rodney Jack was booked for kicking out at Rob Clare when the Stockport defender shielded the ball back to Tidman.

Countyés best chance came towards the end of the half when a clever pass from Aaron Lescott set Ali Gibb free on the right. The winger opted to shoot across goal and his effort was just inches in front of Beckett as he raced into the six-yard box.

Long range efforts

As the second-half went on County started to believe they could win the game, Beckett signalling their intentiuon with a 25-yard shot on the turn that flew straight at Ince.

Aaron Wilbraham was also more alert to opportunities and after collecting a knock-back from his strike partner he let rip with a shot from similar distance that again arrowed straight at Ince.

But in the 71st minute Rodney Jack found himself on the end of a long ball from Dean Ashton in the centre circle. Jack kept his head and with the County defence streaming back he cut in from the left and slid the ball past Tidman.